The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Is Looking For Volunteers

15:27 22 Jan 2018Brendan O'Loughlin

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Is Looking For Volunteers

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has put out its yearly call for new volunteers. The group is looking for people to train as Telephone Counsellors, who will help staff its 24-hour Counselling Line outside office hours

It also needs more Support Personnel, who will need to be available on a rota basis to attend the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in the Rotunda Hospital.

In a statement, DRCC said its volunteers "come from every walk of life. No previous experience or training in this field is required as full training will be given to selected applicants."

If you're interested in helping out, you have to be at least 25 years old and live in the Dublin area. Closing date for applications is Friday February 16th. You can find application forms by clicking here.

In its annual report for 2015, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre revealed it received almost 12,000 calls. Over half the calls were from people contacting the helpline for the first time about rape or sexual abuse.

The organisation also noticed an increase in calls from women who had become homeless and felt vulnerable and a target for rape. The group said many of the calls centered around consent to sex, while there was also a jump in the number of men calling for help.

The organisation admitted it has been struggling to meet the demand for face to face therapy for victims of sexual violence, and announced plans to train in new volunteers to answer calls.

You can find more from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre offices on Lower Leeson Street, by phoning +35316614911 or emailing volunteerservices@rcc.ie.